The MEA said assessments based on motivated inputs and biased views be avoided

India on Friday slammed the US State Department 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom, stating that “ill-informed comments by senior US officials on “motivated inputs and biased views be avoided.”

“We have noted the release of the U.S. State Department 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom, and ill-informed comments by senior U.S. officials. It is unfortunate that vote bank politics is being practiced in international relations. We would urge that assessments based on motivated inputs and biased views be avoided,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in response to media queries.

He said, “As a naturally pluralistic society, India values religious freedom and human rights.”

However, reminding that discrimination and hate crimes continue to be there in the US and Indian officials have regularly raised it during meetings with US officials, the MEA Spokesperson said: “In our discussions with the US, we have regularly highlighted issues of concern there, including racially and ethnically motivated attacks, hate crimes and gun violence.”

The US State Department 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom alleges that in India, attacks on minority communities, including killings, assaults, and intimidation, continued throughout the year. The report, released by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, talks about the status and violations of religious freedom across the world.